Shyam Benegal will head panel on revamp of censor board

In a move which could clip the wings of controversial Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chief Pahlaj Nihalani, the government on Friday formed a panel headed by veteran filmmaker Shyam Benegal to suggest ways to revamp the board.

The committee, which will submit its report in two months to the information & broadcasting (I&B) ministry, includes filmma-ker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, adman Piyush Pandey and film journalist Bhawana Somaaya.

Apart from these, National Film Developme-nt Council (NFDC) managing director Nina Lath Gupta and joint secretary (films) in the ministry Sanjay Murthy would also be part of the committee.

Friday’s announcement came within days of I&B minister Arun Jaitley indicating that the “time has come” to have a re-look at the functioning of the censor board as he would like the board to be “controversy-free”.

The censor body has been involved in several controversies in the recent past, right from editing a kiss in the latest James Bond film Spectre to Mr Nihalani coming out with a list of “cuss words” which are banned from being used in films.

A statement by the ministry said that the panel has been formed “in sync with the vision” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The recommendations of this committee are expected to provide a holistic framework and enable those tasked with the work of certification of films to discharge their responsibilities keeping in view this framework, the statement said.

“During their deliberations, the committee would be expected to take note of the best practises in various parts of the world, especially where the film industry is given sufficient and adequate space for creative and aesthetic expression,” it added.

Reacting to the announcement, Mr Pandey said: “There is no such mandate that has been discussed till now. Only the intimation has come today. We are yet to meet up and discuss the mandate. It’s kind of premature to talk about anything else right now.”

The panel will recommend broad guidelines, procedures under the provisions of the Cinematograph Act, rules for the benefit of the chairperson and other members of the screening committee.

The staffing pattern of the CBFC will also be looked into in an effort to recommend a framework which would provide efficient, transparent, user-friendly services, the statement said.

The statement said that in most countries there is a mechanism of certifying films and documentaries but it has to be ensured that while doing so, artistic creativity and freedom do not get stifled or curtailed. The people tasked with the work of certification should understand these nuances, it added.

Indian films have a glorious history and a whole lot of Indian films have enriched the cultural milieu of the country, besides making astonishing advances in the technical aspects of filmmaking, the ministry said.